 | As the Great War rages on, Sunset Cove continues to feel its impact. Running the small town newspaper, Anna McDowell can’t escape the grim reports from the other side of the world, but home-front challenges abound as well. Dr. Daniel is serving the wounded on the front lines. And Katy, expecting her first child, with her husband in the trenches, tries to support the war effort with her Red Cross club. Even as the war winds down the costs are high—and Sunset Cove is not spared. Genre: Historical Fiction Release Date: Feb 15, 2020 |
My Review
Will the Tide finally start Turning...
I'm gonna admit that I had some mixed emotions while reading Turning Tide. Not because the book wasn't a good one but because of current events. The parts about the war were quite interesting, and I don't remember having heard of the Sedition Act before, but it was pretty eerie reading about the Spanish Flu of 1918 while sitting at home during the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic and shut-down. I mean, some of this stuff is identical to what I see on the news every day now. Businesses closed or hours limited, self quarantine, social distancing, all of it is in this book. I know that this book was written months ago but I would imagine that Melody Carlson had absolutely no clue just how on the spot she would be when it would be released. Like I said, it's eerie...
Normally, I tend to view The Great War through the lens of the first WWI book that I read, L.M. Montgomery's Rilla Of Ingleside, but that was a Canadian story so I really appreciate reading stories like Turning Tide that have an American perspective. The honesty about returning soldiers having difficulties readjusting to civilian and home life is both accurate and appreciated. While it had a different name 100 years ago PTSD was just as real then as it is today.
So, the book itself was a nice historical romance and even features more than one wedding. The details of the lives of the people on the Home Front were interesting. We hear so much about the rationing of the next war that we often forget that WWI did at least some of the same. While I did read the first book in The Legacy Of Sunset Cove series, I missed books 2 and 3, and read this one, the 4th book. I missed a lot of stuff by skipping those books, so I recommend not making the same mistake I did, but I was still able to get into and enjoy the story.
Melody Carlson has a good series in her The Legacy Of Sunset Cove books. The bridge of 3, and later 4, generations of friends and family who live and work together is a nice break from all of the single, no family, workaholic stories out there. So, if you like that kind of thing, like I do, and want to learn a little history, you really should check out this book and the entire series from start to finish.
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Turning Tide by Melody Carlson a 4 Bark rating.
I'm gonna admit that I had some mixed emotions while reading Turning Tide. Not because the book wasn't a good one but because of current events. The parts about the war were quite interesting, and I don't remember having heard of the Sedition Act before, but it was pretty eerie reading about the Spanish Flu of 1918 while sitting at home during the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic and shut-down. I mean, some of this stuff is identical to what I see on the news every day now. Businesses closed or hours limited, self quarantine, social distancing, all of it is in this book. I know that this book was written months ago but I would imagine that Melody Carlson had absolutely no clue just how on the spot she would be when it would be released. Like I said, it's eerie...
Normally, I tend to view The Great War through the lens of the first WWI book that I read, L.M. Montgomery's Rilla Of Ingleside, but that was a Canadian story so I really appreciate reading stories like Turning Tide that have an American perspective. The honesty about returning soldiers having difficulties readjusting to civilian and home life is both accurate and appreciated. While it had a different name 100 years ago PTSD was just as real then as it is today.
So, the book itself was a nice historical romance and even features more than one wedding. The details of the lives of the people on the Home Front were interesting. We hear so much about the rationing of the next war that we often forget that WWI did at least some of the same. While I did read the first book in The Legacy Of Sunset Cove series, I missed books 2 and 3, and read this one, the 4th book. I missed a lot of stuff by skipping those books, so I recommend not making the same mistake I did, but I was still able to get into and enjoy the story.
Melody Carlson has a good series in her The Legacy Of Sunset Cove books. The bridge of 3, and later 4, generations of friends and family who live and work together is a nice break from all of the single, no family, workaholic stories out there. So, if you like that kind of thing, like I do, and want to learn a little history, you really should check out this book and the entire series from start to finish.
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Turning Tide by Melody Carlson a 4 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
More from Melody
Writing about the WW1 era has definitely been a good history lesson for me. Prohibition laws in Oregon (and rum-runners breaking them) combined with a massive war that changed the world and a global epidemic is worth paying attention to. Especially since history sometimes repeats itself. The early 20th century had a lot going on—much that seems nearly forgotten. I’m glad to see the movie 1917 is doing well—and we plan to see it this week. Although I’m not a fan of gruesome war movies, this era continues to intrigue me. Even as I wrapped up my Sunset Cove series with Turning Tide I was left wondering . . . what’s next? But isn’t that the beauty of story?
 Melody Carlson | Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women, and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, True Colors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including RT’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita, and the Gold medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Melody is giving away the grand prize package of
a complete set of The Legacy of Sunset Cove series!!
a complete set of The Legacy of Sunset Cove series!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
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Vicky Sluiter, March 28
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 29
Pause for Tales, March 29
For the Love of Books, March 29
For the Love of Literature, March 16
Through the Fire Blogs, March 16
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 17
Inklings and notions, March 17
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 18
deb’s Book Review, March 18
All-of-a-kind Mom, March 19
By The Book, March 19
Wishful Endings, March 19
Texas Book-aholic, March 20
She Lives To Read, March 20
Betti Mace, March 21
Remembrancy, March 21
janicesbookreviews, March 22
Mary Hake, March 22
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 22
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 23
For Him and My Family, March 23
Maureen’s Musings, March 24
My Devotional Thoughts, March 24
Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 24
Christian Bookaholic, March 25
Artistic Nobody, March 25 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Older & Smarter?, March 26
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 26
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 27
Blogging With Carol, March 27
Daysong Reflections, March 27
SPLASHES of Joy, March 28
Vicky Sluiter, March 28
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 29
Pause for Tales, March 29
For the Love of Books, March 29
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